Red Queen

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What surprised you most about the world of Red Queen? Was it the nature of Silver powers, the social hierarchy, or perhaps a character’s unexpected choices?

2. Aveyard divides her society by blood color, while other dystopian novels like Veronica Roth’s Divergent divide by personality traits. Which division creates a more compelling foundation for conflict and why?

3. The story progresses from Mare’s life as a pickpocket to her role as a revolutionary figure with extraordinary powers. Did this character transformation feel authentic, or did the progression seem rushed?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. In what moments did you find yourself most connecting with Mare’s experiences? How did her responses to challenges compare to choices you might have made?

2. Mare constantly battles feeling like an impostor while living among Silvers. When have you experienced similar feelings in your own life?

3. The novel presents two approaches to social change: Julian’s gradual reform versus the Scarlet Guard’s revolution. Which approach do you find more effective in addressing real-world inequalities and why?

4. Consider how Maven’s betrayal affects Mare’s ability to trust. How have experiences of betrayal or disappointment shaped your own willingness to trust others?

5. Cal struggles between his duty to the crown and his growing awareness of injustice. When have you been caught between competing values or loyalties?

6. Each character expresses different responses to oppression — from Mare’s resistance to Kilorn’s revolution. Which response most resembles how you might react in similar circumstances?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. How does the televised violence between Silvers mirror entertainment in contemporary society? What role does public spectacle play in maintaining power structures?

2. The Silvers justify their rule through claims of natural superiority and protection. What historical or contemporary parallels do you see to this form of justification for inequality?

3. Throughout the novel, information and appearances are manipulated to control the population. In what ways does this reflect current concerns about media, surveillance, and information control in our digital age?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. What significance does Mare’s ability to generate electricity rather than just manipulate it hold for the larger themes of the novel?

2. Aveyard uses the different settings in Norta—the Stilts, the summer palace, the capital—to reflect social stratification. How do these physical spaces enhance our understanding of the novel’s power dynamics?

3. Mare undergoes significant transformation from the beginning to the end of the novel. Which experiences most profoundly shape her development, and what aspects of her character remain consistent?

4. The cameras serve as both literal surveillance devices and a symbolic motif throughout the novel. How does their presence affect the characters’ behaviors and the plot development?

5. Maven’s betrayal is a pivotal moment in the novel. What subtle clues did Aveyard provide that foreshadowed this turn of events?

6. The revelation that other Reds with abilities exist recontextualizes the entire story. How does this discovery shift the power dynamics established throughout the novel?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you possessed one Silver ability from the novel, which would you choose and why?

2. Write a scene from the Red Queen told from another character’s perspective, such as Evangeline or Queen Elara. How would the narrative change if seen through their eyes?

3. Red Queen explores themes of betrayal and class division similar to those in Victoria Aveyard’s later series Realm Breaker. If you’ve read both, how do the worlds and character dynamics compare? If not, what elements from Red Queen would you hope to see Aveyard develop in her other works?

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